For our family meaningful is the name of the game when it comes to giving Christmas presents (at least as much as possible). Don’t get me wrong–it’s fun to circle toy catalog images and browse the shelves at your local big box stores while Christmas shopping. However, I think those days are slowly being replaced with shopping for meaningful gifts that give back. Today I’ve compiled some companies that create beautiful and meaningful gifts. Best of all, they’re all giving back in some way. The ads contained in this post and some links contain affiliates, all opinions are completely my own.
5 great gifts that give back
Apolis
I’ve been eyeing the Apolis market bags on Instagram for awhile now and there’s a good chance that you have too. The Hollywood Reporter stated that the market bag from Apolis “is the new must-have accessory for grocery shoppers celebs… and pretty much every fashion blogger on your Pinterest page.” What’s more important though is what Forbes had to say about the brand: “Over the last three years the Apolis market bag has directly impacted the lives of countless women.” So now not only can you give a practical gift that’s also thoughtful (you can customize your bag with nearly anything you can imagine), but your purchase also helps support the artisans that create the bags. Apolis ensures that the workers receive Fair Trade wages, annual profit dividends, and a retirement fund.
Cuddle + Kind
Cuddle + Kind dolls are the cuddliest little companions for your sweethearts you ever did see. What makes them extra sweet is that for every doll purchased they donate 10 meals to children in need. Cuddle + Kind works with humanitarian organizations in the United States, Canada, Kenya, Haiti, and more to help ensure that no child is hungry at school. The dolls are also lovingly handmade in Peru and workers are provided with Fair Trade wages.
Hero Bands
The story behind Elizabeth, the founder of Hero Bands, is incredible and inspiring. Wanting to make an impact for good after her own experience with sex trafficking, Elizabeth began making leather bracelets with empowering words stamped on them. Now $2 from every band purchased goes to Operation Underground Railroad, an organization that rescues trafficked children. You can also directly purchase a band for a rescued child and your initials will be stamped on them along with the word of the month. Talk about gifts that give back.
Natierra
I met some of the reps from Natierra at the WOW Summit I went to a few weeks ago and was impressed by their “buy a bag give a bag” initiative. Now not only can you purchase a healthy and delicious stocking stuffer, but when you purchase a bag of their Natierra Superfoods they work with Convoy of Hope to donate one fortified rice meal to a child in need. To date, more than 800,000 meals have been given to the children of Haiti.
Hand in Hand
Having clean and accessible water is probably something that most of us take for granted. However, when the couple behind Hand In Hand found out that 5 million children die each year form water related illnesses they knew they had to do something. When you purchase a product from Hand in Hand they donate a bar of soap through the world-wide child advocacy group, My Neighbor’s Children; currently 100% of their donations go to the children of Haiti.
more gifts that give back
- S’Well bottles: partnering with UNICEF USA S’well has raised $800,000 since 2015 to help provide water to those in need.
- Warby Parker: program in place so when you buy a pair of glasses, they give a pair to someone in need.
- Philosophy: your purchase helps to support community-based mental health efforts.
- Love Your Melon: 50% of profits go to help fund pediatric cancer research.
- Thistle Farms: helps to support women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction.
- Found My Animal: helps support dozens of animal rescue organizations.
- Better World Books: every time you purchase a book they donate one, they also support educational nonprofits and libraries.
- Soap Box Soaps: For every product purchased on bar of soap is donated to someone in need stateside or abroad.
- Bloom & Give: 10% of sales are donated to support girls education programs in India.
- The Giving Keys: offers jobs to help transition people out of homelessness.
- LSTN Sound Co.: works with Starkey hearing Foundation to provide hearing aids for people in need worldwide.
- Dancing Deer Baking Co.: gives back through various groups, including the Sweet Home Project which helps homeless families.
- STATE Backpacks: for every bag purchased they hand deliver a backpack filled with school essentials to a child in need.
even more gifts that give back
- BoxLunch: with every $10 spent you help provide a meal through Feeding America.
- Toms: through their One For One® promise Toms has helped provide shoes, sight, clean water, safe birth, and bullying prevention services.
- Parks Project: each product purchased directly contributes to one of many different conservancies across the United States.
- Rainbow Sandals: they provide donations of sandals and funds to various organizations. They also implement a repair-reuse-recycle program.
- Punjammies: every purchase helps with job creation and skills training for women at a high risk for human trafficking.
- Diff Eyewear: for every pair of sunglasses sold they donate a pair of reading glasses.
- Roma Boots: for every pair of rain boots purchased they donate a pair to a child in need.
- FEED Projects: every one of their products has a number stamped on it that tells the amount of meals or micronutrient packets provided with its purchase.
- Yoobi: for every product purchased they donate a school supply item to a school in need in the US.
- Conscious Step: all products are fairtrade certified and different designs support different causes from fighting hunger to planting trees to animal rescue.
- Original Grain: this company uses reclaimed and sustainable wood and for every watch bought a tree is planted.
- Faucet Face: each bottle bought helps provide clean water for families in India.
- Sunshine Nut Co.: 30% of the company’s net proceeds will go toward caring for orphans and other children in need.
19 Responses to 30+ gifts that give back
I try to give gifts that do good with my money spent. I shop at a Fair Trade bazar every year.
Oh, I love this idea!! I’ll have to check some of these out – really great picks! Especially the S’Well bottles 🙂
Love hearing about these wonderful companies! I’m a huge 31 bits fan
I love the mission of these companies. It’s nice to know that in addition to getting a great product, we’re also helping to give back with each gift purchase.
These are such a great gift ideas. Definitely checking this out. Thank you for taking time creating this post.
I love gifts that give back! They are especially good when you’re shopping for people who seem ‘to have everything.’
I love everything about this! I’ve been working on a similar post and I love that more people find this to be important!
FANTASTIC list of places to get gifts from that give back!
I absolutely love how you have found gifts that are thoughtful and connect with a meaningful cause. You are so very right that those are the gifts that keep on giving (to so many people!).
I absolutely love seeing companies give back in such a big way. Those dolls are so cute, and would make a great gift this season. Perfect way to make a little girl happy AND support a company who gives back!
-Jennifer
https://maunelegacy.com
This is awesome! I recently went into a local store to look at pastel stationery and it’s all recycled paper and wood or money to endangered animals! Great ideas and fab causes…well done x
Love this list! Those unicorn dolls are absolutely adorable. My daughter is obsessed with unicorns.
What a thoughtful roundup! Thanks for sharing. i am shaving a few ideas for family gifts.
Wow, this is such an awesome list Justine! I will definitely be pinning this so I can come back to it for gifts throughout the year.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
[…] a gift that gives back […]
[…] shared small shops and companies that give back before. As much as I love the convenience of Amazon Prime, there is something truly special about […]
[…] are so many fabulous companies out there that have a commitment to giving back in their mission statement. As you’re doing […]
[…] Check out these gifts that give back! […]
[…] | Read: 30+ Gifts that Give Back | […]